InTank Refuge in 32g biocube

[Judi M]

Hello!
I added aInTank basket & refuge to biocube about 2 wks ago. Basket has filter floss and refuge has chaeto ( shipped to me), have a led light on back of refuge, on outside.

My chaeto isn't floating or growing? It hasn't faded but wondering if lack of growth is just due to shipping shock? Light issues? Flow issues? Or...?
Tank is about 8wks
Ammonia o
Calcium 420
Alk 8.6
Mg 1110
Nitrates 4 ppm
Phos 0
Salinity 1.023

 

[Biocube32]

You might not have thw nutrient load yet to support chaeto growth at only two months old? What kind of light?

 

[Judi M]

Bought this for refuge ( others said they used this ti grow chaeto with success)
LED Aquarium Light, Smiful Fish Tank Light Submersible Underwater Crystal Glass LEDs Lights 11"-Colorful (Colorful) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075GN8C4B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Y0sOCbBCE6RK4

Tank has standard led
Fyi, used live sand, biospira and liFe rock for setup

 

[Hermie]

a couple things,

1. light power does decrease if it's going through glass
2. the tank's nitrates/phosphates are already low (and assumably all other nutrients chaeto needs), so there's not much for the chaeto to "eat"

Just wondering, is there a reason you want the chaeto (to grow)? If it's to help control nitrates/phosphates, the tank already has fairly low levels.
Adding more food to the tank may help but could also induce unwanted micro algae growth.

 

[Judi M]

So may have a clue on issue? I was leaving this grow light on 24/7 on white. Today first time I've turned off during day and also read that red light may help it grow it better?

 

[Judi M]

a couple things,

1. light power does decrease if it's going through glass
2. the tank's nitrates/phosphates are already low (and assumably all other nutrients chaeto needs), so there's not much for the chaeto to "eat"

Just wondering, is there a reason you want the chaeto (to grow)? If it's to help control nitrates/phosphates, the tank already has fairly low levels.
Adding more food to the tank may help but could also induce unwanted micro algae growth.

May have jumped the gun setting up refuge? Just trying to set up in the most optimal manner ( and the least amount of additives long term)

 

[Hermie]

May have jumped the gun setting up refuge? Just trying to set up in the most optimal manner ( and the least amount of additives long term)

Wouldn't worry about it too much unless the chaeto develops a ton of micro algae (ex: hair algae) and just dies off entirely.

Worst comes to worse some of the chaeto will die off releasing its nutrients into the tank and micro algae will take it over, but if the tank has a population of copepods, they will eat the microalgae and hopefully bring a balance. Reduced lighting like you've done will help keep the chaeto from being taken over. Maybe just don't light it too intensely (8 hours or so) until the tank's nitrates/phosphates increase.

 

[Judi M]

Wouldn't worry about it too much unless the chaeto develops a ton of micro algae (ex: hair algae) and just dies off entirely.

Worst comes to worse some of the chaeto will die off releasing its nutrients into the tank and micro algae will take it over, but if the tank has a population of copepods, they will eat the microalgae and hopefully bring a balance. Reduced lighting like you've done will help keep the chaeto from being taken over. Maybe just don't light it too intensely (8 hours or so) until the tank's nitrates/phosphates increase.

Thanks! Yeah, kind of jumped the gun adding pods too... had remembered from way back that you can never have enough pods, so added them with my first fish ( and pyhtoplankton) not sure how many (if Any) survived and are hiding in rock.